leonard cohen
From the debut album "Songs of Leonard Cohen", released December 27, 1967.
Norwegian artist Marianne Christine Ihlen (1935-2016) met Leonard Cohen on the Isle of Hydra, Greece, in 1960. For 13 years they lived frequently close together, in Montreal and on Hydra. She had certain influence on Cohen's first two albums, and her photo covers the back side of his album "Songs from a Room".
He never forgot her. After her death, he wrote her a posthumous letter, reading:
«Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.»
Three months later the gentle jew with the dark voice and the hat passed away himself. «Hi there, Marianne»?
come over to the window my little darling
I'd like to try to read your palm
I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy
before I let you take me home
well you know that I love to live with you
but you make me forget so very much
I forget to pray for the angels
and then the angels forget to pray for us
we met when we were almost young
deep in the green lilac park
you held on to me like I was a crusifix
as we went kneeling through the dark
your letters they all say that you're beside me now
then why do I feel alone ?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
is fastening my ankle to a stone
for now I need your hidden love
I'm cold as a new razor blade
you left when I told you I was curious
I never said that I was brave
oh you're really such a pretty one
I see you've gone and changed your name again
and just when I climbed this whole mountainside
to wash my eyelids in the rain
... so long marianne : it's time that we begin
to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again ...
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
E F#m come over to the window my little darling A E I'd like to try to read your palm D A I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy C#m B7 before I let you take me home E C#m so long marianne it's time that we begin B7 E to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again
